THIRTEEN

Rhett

My mate, Nadia, informed me that so far all is going well with the bathing ritual of the soon to be Luna Queen.  She was thrilled to tell me how the Alpha King could hardly keep his eyes and hands off his mate.  I sighed with the thought that my friend and king is finally getting the life he secretly yearned.

"Beta Rhett, the main gate patrol guard just mind linked me that we have VVIP guests asking permission to enter the royal pack."  A castle guard informed me.

"VVIP?  Where is Gamma Vino?  He is first in screening the guests before me."  I pointed.

"Beta, he is currently dealing.....uhmmm....with the so called guests."  The guard apprehensively stated. "His hands are full.  He needs assistance."

"What the heck is going on and who the heck are these guests?"  I got fed up.

"You will never believe this.  It's the former Alpha King and his Luna Queen."  He bowed and slowly stepped backwards to leave my office.

Vino, I'm coming there right now.  Hold them for as long as you can. I told Vino via mind link.

Easy for you to say!  Luna Amanda is already irate and Alpha Magnus is close to shifting to his wolf because of anger.  Come quick now, Rhett!  I do not know what to do!  Vino responded.

I scratch my head and wiped the beads of sweat forming on my upper lip.  Of all the days, they come back now.  The last time Knox's parents visited the royal pack after moving to Australia, all hell broke lose.  The couple came to visit Lucian and Jada's grave.  When Alpha Magnus caught King Knox in bed with five naked women including Yara, the father and son had a heated argument followed by a serious wolf showdown.  Luna Amanda tried to hide her disappointment and fear but left the two to deal with their differences.  For 77 solid years they stayed away and now they are back.  For what reason?

I was scrambling to go to the main gate as my mind is trying to figure out what to do.  Will there be royal blood shed again?  Knox is already ultra protective of his mate, what more now?  His wolf will flare-up.

.......................................

I am  meters away from the gate and I could already hear raised voices.

"Why is this taking so long, Vino?  I am tired and I want to see my son and his mate now.  We are your King's family.  What right have you to hold us up?"  Luna Amanda is irked.

"Look here, for the last time, royal gamma, I was king in this pack for 200 years!  No one, not even my son, has the right to keep us from coming back to the castle!  Let us in or my wolf will speak for the both of us!"  King Magnus stormed.

I butted in, "What a surprise to see you, Alpha Magnus, Luna Amanda."  That sounded insincere.

"Oh Rhett, it is nice to see you again.  Thank goddess you are here. Now, escort us to our room in the castle."  Luna Amanda calmly requested.

"Of course my Luna.  Alpha, welcome!  Guards, escort the couple back to their car and bring them directly to the castle. Assist them in whatever they need."

Vino's eyes went big.  Really, you will let them in without a fuss?  You made me endure their displeasure!  Why did you ask me to hold them up for as long as I can?  Geez!  Are we playing good cop bad cop here?

I looked back at Vino and smirked.  In fact, Vino, I am assigning you of breaking the news to our lovestruck Alpha King.  With that I gave him a quick salute.  Vino was trashing when I left him.

.............................................

Lyanna

"Knox, calm down, please.  You are scaring me."  I pleaded.  Knox has uprooted like  four trees already.  He is punching and kicking and growling like a livid rogue.  Vino never left us.  He could sense all this could go very wrong in a minute.

"Lyanna, you do not know my parents!  The timing of them coming back here is suspicious.  They meant to punish me by hurting you!  I will not let them hurt you or take you away form me!  Over my dead body!"  Knox huffed.  His rage alarms me.

"My love, you do not know that for sure."  I tried giving him solace.

Knox's red and scrunched face relaxed.  "You called me my love, little bunny.  Say it again."

Did I call him my love?  I guess I did.  "If I say it again, will you sit with me and talk about this calmly?"  I looked straight into his eyes.

"You little manipulative luna!  You know you have me wrapped in your little fingers, don't you?"  He smiled.  Ah, at least he is distracted.  He is like a ticking time bomb. He surrendered, "Fine, I will try to calm down, and yes, it is best we discuss this before we face them."

I held his face with my two hands and sweetly uttered, "my love".  Like reflex, he pulled me closer for an affirming kiss.  After few seconds, Vino coughed loudly.  Knox growled at him.

We sat at the garden gazebo as Vino stand guard few meters away from us.

"Knox, I am really surprised to have learnt that King Magnus is still around.  What happened?  And Queen Amanda, you never mentioned her.  Actually, no one I know ever mentions her."

"First, they are stripped of the titles king and queen when I ascended the throne.  They remain alpha and luna, however.  My mother bowed to whatever my father says or asks.  She rarely took political and social role as luna because my father wants it that way.  She saw the injustice and the blatant favoritism of my father and yet she did nothing to appease me.  When Lucian died she just wept and kept silent.  She did not even express her grudge against me.  She was indifferent to me and that hurt more.  She was so scared to show any emotion towards me, whether good or bad, thinking my father may not approve of it.  I hardly felt a mother's love."

Knox head bent low.  I feel for him.  I could only imagine his pain and resentment.  I had a loving and caring mother.  I will die a thousand death if my mother will treat me with indifference.  Every son or daughter needs the warmth of a mother's embrace and the comforting words they whisper when children cry.

"My father, oh my father is no secret!  He hates me.  I do not know why, but if he could kill me with his own hands, he will without hesitation.  I pondered many years of my life as to what I did in the past that made my father dislike me so much.  I asked him many times and he would just shove me away and say I am being a weakling.  He worshipped Lucian.  His world is Lucian.  Lucian comes first for him, not even my mother stand a chance against my brother.  When Lucian took his life in front of our very eyes, my father went stoic.  He wept as he held on to Lucian's body.  I expected him to turn to me, even kill me.  But he just went passive, handed me the crown and carried my brother's body away.  After Lucian and Jada's burial ceremony, my parents decided to leave the country.  They retired to Australia.  They came back during Lucian and Jada's tenth year death anniversary and never came back.....until now."

"Time changes people.  What if they are here now to share your joy?"

"Lyanna, I know what you are trying to do.  But do not feed me false hope.  I could feel it in my heart that they are here to ruin the coronation tonight.  If they as much say an offensive word against you, I will banish them."

"How about, we play along for now, listen to what they say as to why they are here, act nice, but never trusting or putting our guards down?"  I suggested.

Knox tapped my nose with his index finger.  "What choice do we have?  It's either that or I send them straight to the dungeon.  I am so sorry my love, this night is supposed to be your night and now my family drama is threatening it."

"I do not mind postponing it."  I meant to say more but Knox's growl is a signal to shut it.

"You will be my queen tonight!  No one dare stop that or they will answer to my wolf!  Come, little bunny, time to meet your in-laws."  He stood and took my hand and off we go.    I mouthed "thank you" to Vino.  He bowed and smiled.

When we were near the palace lounge, we could hear animated voices and giggling.  When Vino opened the door for us, there to the right is Beta Rhett and Nadia smiling like crazy and at center, perched on the lavish couch, are the former king and queen with the giggling Harper in the middle.